Connection for structural members



Malf'h l, 1 A SIMS CONNECTION FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed Oct. l, 1945 FlgZ Fig l` JOSEP/f4. SIMS INVENTOR. BY of Y* V ATTORNE Ys Patented Mar. 1, 1949 CONNECTION FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Joseph A. Sims, Houston, Tex.

Application October 1, 1945, Serial No. 619,576

This invention relates to connectors or couplings, and is particularly concerned with such a device that is capable of forming a rigid connection between elongated members, but which may be readily released when a disconnect is desired.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device that is easily assembled and disassembled but which forms and maintains a positive connection when in use.

Another object is to provide a device of the class described that is simple and inexpensive to construct and is efficient in providing a rigid connection between structural members.

A further object is to provide a structure that is of particular utility in forming a connection between tubular members used in forming a structural framework.

The invention is also of utility in forming masts, scaffolding and similar structures that are either temporary or permanent in nature.

The foregoing objects together with additional objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View through two members that are interconnected in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial elevational view of two members to be interconnected, such members being shown in the relative position preliminary to forming a rigid connection therebetween in accordance with the invention.

The device of the invention may constitute end portions of coupling members which are secured, as by conventional threads or otherwise, to long members which are to be interconnected, but I prefer that the invention shall comprehend the preforming of the ends of the members themselves by providing male and female ends on the members I and 2 that are to be interconnected. To this end the male member I is provided with a reduced end which includes the peripheral tapered surface 3 which terminates in outwardly facing surfaces comprising shoulder 4 and end surface A5.

The female member 2 is provided with a complementary end portion which comprises the truncated conical surface I adapted to frictionally engage the surface 3 as the surface I I therein closely approaches the end 5 of the male member I. Likewise the dimensions of the component parts are such that the end I3 of the female member approaches the shoulder 4 on the male 3 Claims. (Cl. 287-119) member as the surfaces 3 and I0 enter into frictional and wedging engagement.

Intermediate the end I3 and the surface II on the female member 2 is a transverse hole or opening I5 of a size to receive the end I6 adjacent the head I1 of the bolt I8 of which the body is tapered as indicated at I9, and which terminates in the threaded end 20 which receives nut 2I having a boss or shoulder 22 of a size andconfiguration to wedgingly enter the hole I5.

Attention is directed to the fact that the hole 25 in one side of the male member I likewise nts closely about the bolt I8 and is so positioned that movement of the tapered portion I9 of the bolt through this opening draws the male member inward until the respective juxtaposed outwardly facing surfaces are pressed into engagement as the tapered surfaces 3 and I0 on the members I and 2 are wedged together during relative longitudinal movement of the members, while the bolt I8 is bolted into terminal position as shown in Fig. l. At the same time of course, the shoulder 22 is wedged within the opening I5 opposite the head I 1 and the bolt is thus held rigidly in position whereby permanency of the resulting connection is assured even though the composite structure is subjected to violent bending, tension and/or compression stresses.

To facilitate release of the connection with the minimum number of tools, a wrench and hammer being adequate for this purpose, the opening 26 opposite the opening 25 in the male member I is displaced axially outwardly toward the end of the member a suicient distance that such displacement will not interfere with the completion of the connection in the manner just described, but will provide a slight eccentricity with the adjacent opening in the outer or female member 2. If then the nut 2| is removed the bolt I8 may be readily removed by impact thereon. The connection previously formed remains intact, however, inasmuch as the surfaces 3 and I0 are tightly wedged together and the paired outwardly facing surfaces on the respective members are in close engagement.

The bolt I8 may then be inserted into the aligned openings from the opposite direction whereby engagement will be made between the lower surface of the passage I5 in the female member and the upper surface 21 of the opening 26 in the male member. Preferably, although not necessarily, relative dimensions of the parts are such that the end portion of the bolt enters the opening 25 as such engagement takes place.

the passage 25 in the male member. If necessary` impacts may be applied to force themembers -tcgether until the threaded portion 2`Il offthebolt I8 protrudes beyond the periphery of the female n member 2 whereupon the connection pan becoinpleted by tightening the nutfzl Lupon Qthejbolt.

While the structural members IfandZ Shown in the drawings are tubular, it is to lee-'understood that the invention is not'conned thereto inthat `itmay be used with ftubular memberssof any selected :cross section or 'may'fbe used iwith non-tubular members, since 'the-inver'ition `broadly Vcomprehends thepr'ovision 'of ya connector 'or coupling whichcomprise's complementary tapered male and female ends 'together with means capable of Im'oving'said intefitting ends `into wedg'ing engagement land also capable of releasing such engagement when disassembly of the ':on1:iee"ticn is desired.

Whatis claimed lis:

1. A connection for structural members com; prisiriga female member having Ia tapered bore in the kend Ythereof, a malemeinber having a tapered end to t within said bore, a passage through each of said members, each of s'aid passages 'being 'of substantially .uniform diameter, thepassagein `one of lsaid members being inclined to `th'eaxis thereof vso that the passages at one side f the connection are in alignment and yare eccentric at the 'other's'ide thereof whenfthe c`onnection is made up, and a tapered fastener adapted to enter the passages and move said alig'nable passages Tinto alignment whereby the tapered surface-s ofthe male and female members `are wedged into connected relation.

"2. A connection for elongated members com- 4 prising, a female member having a tapered bore in the end thereof, a male member having a tapered end to fit within said bore, there being transverse passages through said members, the adjacent portions of the passages at the opposite sides of the members being respectively aligned and misaligned when the members wedgingly intert, and a tapered lock member insertable at 'the side 'of the alignablepQrtion-sgof,the passages 'to bring the members into .xt'fmigingiyv int'erntting relation and insertible at the side of the mis- V'aligned portions to break the wedgingly interfit ends'. Tlf.'A'connection for elongated members comprising, a female member having a tapered bore 'fin the K4"end thereof, a male member having a tapered end to fit within said bore, there being passages of Asubs'tantially uniform diameter through 'said members, the passage through one of the members being inclined relative to the passagegintheother member su'thatfthe passages are aligned at one .end-but misaligned at, the lotl'lerend when ithe,member's wedgingly intert, atapeled "bolt havinga larger portion :fitting within, the aligned .portions 'of said passages and the smaller end extending through A,the opening formed by the misaligned other end of A'the -passages. Y .t

f JOSEPH A. SIMS.

REFERENCES CITED AThe renewing 'references are 'of rcru in the me of this patent; i

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 616,273 'Streu-ser pee. 2o, '189e 1,037,091 wedge f fAi1g."2"1, ',1'9'12 1,132,375 .Myers Mar. "16, 1915 40 1,636,421 Knott "Ji`y 19, i927 1169x597 Kangas "Aug. *15,1939

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country "Date 10,832 `Grreat Britain May 8, V1971-3 10,253 Great Britain May' .6, 1903 175,887 Great Britain Mar. 2, l1922 

